I love a good Christmas Regency and am often willing to be less critical of these stories in the spirit of the season. That said, I have to agree w/Blythe's assessment of this book. It didn't take me a month to read but longer than it usually takes. I think a "C" is a fair grade.

I liked Phoebe better than Lucas, too, but neither really clicked with me. I also wasn't crazy about the smuggling plot even though it was plausible considering the times. What really bothered me about this story was Lucas' reaction to Esme. I guess I am tired of grown men who swear off love and marriage based on 1 failed relationship in their youth. Get over it! Who amongst us has not had a failed romance in their past? It is just so juvenile to carry on so and judge all women against the one who dumped you. Geez! And I agree that the feud between Lucas and Silverton was silly. This book just didn't work for me._________________So many books; so little time!
www.shelfari.com/tinabelle

I haven't read this book, but I thought Quakers didn't celebrate Christmas. Are the Christmas elements integral to the story/characters, or window dressing?

This was another aspect of the book that I found unrealistic. Phoebe seemed to easily leave her Quaker upbringing and beliefs by the wayside awfully easily. They surface when it is convenient for her to win an argument w/Lucas or to foster her own agenda. IMHO she wasn't overly sincere or committed to her beliefs.

She seemed to know a lot about Christmas and holiday traditions for someone who had never celebrated them before and took over the planning, decorating, etc. at Mistletoe Manor. I thought the whole Quaker aspect of Phoebe was window dressing. The whole idea of celebrating Christmas was given a lot of play in the second half of the book once they arrive at Mistletoe Manor, but I really didn't get a warm, fuzzy Christmas feeling from this story. Like I said, it just didn't work for me._________________So many books; so little time!
www.shelfari.com/tinabelle

This was another aspect of the book that I found unrealistic. Phoebe seemed to easily leave her Quaker upbringing and beliefs by the wayside awfully easily. They surface when it is convenient for her to win an argument w/Lucas or to foster her own agenda. IMHO she wasn't overly sincere or committed to her beliefs.

She seemed to know a lot about Christmas and holiday traditions for someone who had never celebrated them before and took over the planning, decorating, etc. at Mistletoe Manor. I thought the whole Quaker aspect of Phoebe was window dressing. The whole idea of celebrating Christmas was given a lot of play in the second half of the book once they arrive at Mistletoe Manor, but I really didn't get a warm, fuzzy Christmas feeling from this story. Like I said, it just didn't work for me.

Ah, I thought so. A shame, since the plot sounds like it should have been an intriguing read. :/